Heartbreaking news; although Lucky lived quite a long, admirable life which should be celebrated.
It'll be a sad day once Nicole is finally relocated; San Antonio will no longer hold elephants after a century of holding them.
North American Asian Elephant Population 2022
- Thread starter John Marchwick
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Heartbreaking news; although Lucky lived quite a long, admirable life which should be celebrated.
It'll be a sad day once Nicole is finally relocated; San Antonio will no longer hold elephants after a century of holding them.
King of Komodo Dragons
Well-Known Member
San Antonio did say they plan to bring elephants back in a new state of the art exhibit once they expand to the other side of the highway, though I believe the current plan is to bring in African not asian elephants. So at the very least San Antonio in the future will have elephants again
The suggestion of African elephants was several years ago. We honestly don’t know if they are going to stick with that, and what the population dynamics/availability will be in a few years. The zoo does have almost 10 acres of unutilized land on the other side of the highway so they could build a great exhibit if the money is there. But given the zoo is breaking ground on the entrance this month or so, and then gorillas next year or soit may be a while.
Nile Hippo Expert
Well-Known Member
Where would be a good, suitable place for Nicole to live out her golden years? I'd expect Nicole to leave San Antonio in the next two years, maybe sooner. My personal idea is to move her to the Hohenwald Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee.
TB Central. I'd rather she went somewhere like El Paso to live with Savannah or anywhere else with an aging herd of circus elephants. Perhaps Audubon or Little Rock?
Nile Hippo Expert
Well-Known Member
Maybe Houston could take her, so she can be in a highly social herd, and Cincinnati is also a realistic option with a new exhibit opening in 2024-2025. 46 is too old to become a mother though, so Nicole will never have a calf regardless.
Yeah, I'm really not a fan of either of the elephant sanctuaries and which zoos would stop sending elephants to them. I don't understand why the ARAs consider them the better options, when in reality they're death sentences riddled with Tuberculosis and deaths from dangerous and reckless introductions.
Because it's a "feel-good" move, much like a certain hypocritical, pretentious and horrifically irresponsible zoo director's current project across the pond. Less I say about it, the better.
Corangurilla
Well-Known Member
You know, as sad as Lucky’s death is, I’m actually kind of relieved that San Antonio won’t have elephants once Nicole departs. I don’t want to sound like I agree with the IDA’s “Zoos that Have Elephants” lists, but San Antonio’s elephant exhibit is awful. Don’t know how good it is welfare-wise, but it’s certainly the ugliest elephant exhibit in the US.
I used to hate San Antonio for their elephant exhibit alone (even though I’ve never stepped foot in Texas), but now that I’ve emotionally matured and with gorillas down the zoo’s pipeline, maybe I’ll swing by for a visit someday? Who knows?
I used to hate San Antonio for their elephant exhibit alone (even though I’ve never stepped foot in Texas), but now that I’ve emotionally matured and with gorillas down the zoo’s pipeline, maybe I’ll swing by for a visit someday? Who knows?
Both of those are extremely poor suggestions. Houston, after being plagued with herpes issues for the entire time they had been breeding elephants up until 12 years ago, finally has an extremely good thing going, with a large, dynamic herd, with multiple breeding cows. They’re already fairly tight on space, and absolutely do not need another unrelated, post reproductive female added to the social structure.
As for Cincinnati, they will be receiving a successful breeding mother daughter dyad, plus their two sons. Add that to their current breeding bull, plus their three non-breeding cows, and that once again gives them a fairly large social structure that really doesn’t need another nonbreeding, unrelated cow added to the mix.
Mr.Ivory
Well-Known Member
Asian elephant females Trong Nhi and Nhi linh will leave Diergaarde Blijdorp and will arrive at Smithsonian quite soon
They have been prepared for their impending move for quite some time. They will be accompanied throughout the journey and also the week after by two keepers from Blijdorp and a veterinarian. Keepers from Smithsonian previously spent a week in Blijdorp to get to know the two elephants.
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They have been prepared for their impending move for quite some time. They will be accompanied throughout the journey and also the week after by two keepers from Blijdorp and a veterinarian. Keepers from Smithsonian previously spent a week in Blijdorp to get to know the two elephants.
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All reasonable options. Little Rock’s probably the best imo (once they renovate their current facilities). They also have Babe who’s the same age as Nicole too, and once Zina passes on (who’s 60) they may be looking for a replacement anyway.
Nile Hippo Expert
Well-Known Member
Even more sad news! 45-year-old Devi has passed away at San Diego Zoo. Whenever Mary (59) dies, then San Diego will not have Asian Elephants for the first time in a century.
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Officially, TES is not the TB capital. The elephants that had TB came from Hawthorne. There has been zoos and circuses that have had TB. TES seems to be having managed their elephants ethically since Carol Buckley has left.
i am not trying to defend the sanctuary, just stating the facts.
i am not trying to defend the sanctuary, just stating the facts.
If I remember right Nicole is from Ringling, a facility that had ongoing TB problems for more then a decade. Since Nicole has most likely been exposed to TB before her arrival in San Antonio, it might indeed be a good option to send her to TES where she could live with other elephants that have been exposed to TB so that no healthy elephants from other zoos are put in danger. The vast space with unlimited vegetation would be great for her too.
She could move in with Sissy. She has been tested positive then treated and tested negative so she moved back and of course, then Tarra was removed. Sissy and Nosey could use another companion.
Plus TES has strict regulations when it comes to TB. They had to because TWRA wouldn’t allow them to move the hawthorn elephants across the state lines. That’s why John Cuneo had to take the elephants off the road. Because of TB and many states didn’t want the elephants crossing the lines.
It was Carol who messed it up. Hence the firing.
The A/R twist is, of course, different. It has nothing to do with their abuse allegations.
It was Carol who messed it up. Hence the firing.
The A/R twist is, of course, different. It has nothing to do with their abuse allegations.
RhinoHippoElephantGiraffe
Well-Known Member
I REALLY hope Mary lives until at least June 17th, 2023, which is the 100th anniversary of San Diego Zoo's first Asian Elephants arriving, especially considering that San Diego hasn't NOT had an Asian Elephant since then.
Nile Hippo Expert
Well-Known Member
Yes, it would be sad if San Diego lost their 99 1/2 year streak of Asian Elephants. Maybe they'll bring in a new Asian Elephant in the next few months.